How Much Does Corten Steel Cost?
Corten steel costs more than plain steel, but there is no single price. The final cost depends on the size of the job, the thickness of the steel, and how much work goes into it.
You don’t only pay for the steel. You also pay for cutting, bending, welding, packing and freight. That’s why the best way to price a job is to look at the whole job, not just the cost of a sheet.
Typical Corten steel prices
Prices vary a lot between small and large jobs.
For small garden jobs, retail Corten edging is one of the cheapest ways to buy. At Bunnings, a 2440 mm length of 1.6 mm Corten edge costs A$43 at 100 mm high, A$53 at 150 mm high and A$73 at 185 mm high.
Flat panels cost more. At Corten AU, a 3 mm panel costs A$568.73 at 1200 x 1200 mm, A$835.71 at 1800 x 1200 mm and A$969.20 at 2100 x 1200 mm.
These are retail prices for standard products. They are not a guide for custom work, which can be priced very differently.
Why two quotes can be so different
Two jobs can use the same steel and still have very different prices. The difference is in the work.
A flat panel is simple to make. A custom screen may need a design file, laser cutting, bends, welds, holes, tabs, feet or a frame. Each extra step adds cost.
Steel thickness
Thickness changes the price a lot. A 3 mm sheet has almost twice the steel of a 1.6 mm sheet of the same size. It is also heavier to move and harder to cut and bend.
When you compare quotes, don’t go by sheet size alone. Ask for the steel grade and the thickness too. Corten AU sells both 2 mm and 3 mm parts, and a 300 x 300 mm piece in 2 mm costs A$48.40.
Cutting
A plain sheet with four straight cuts is cheap to cut. A laser cut screen with a detailed pattern takes much more machine time. Small holes, tight curves and fine detail all add to the price.
This is why a plain panel can look cheap next to a pattern screen, even when both use about the same amount of steel.
Bends and welds
If the job isn’t flat, the steel has to be bent. If parts join together, they have to be welded.
A planter is a good example. It needs four sides, a base, welds and drain holes. Corten AU lists ready-made planters from about A$443 to close to A$1,000 for some single-piece sizes, and larger kit planters cost more.
The price of a planter is the cost of the full build, not the steel area.
Order size
Every job has fixed work, such as setting up the file, testing the cut, setting up the machine, packing and freight. On a one-off job, that cost falls on one item. On a bigger batch, it is shared across many parts, so each part costs less.
For trade work, give the maker the full size, thickness, number of parts and end use to get a real price.
Raw sheet or finished product
A low sheet price can be misleading. You may still need to pay for cutting, bending, welding, holes, waste, packing and freight. If you do the work yourself, you also need the tools and the skill.
For small jobs, a ready-made product is often easier and cheaper overall. For large or repeat jobs, buying steel direct and having it cut and welded locally can save money.
Does Corten cost more than plain steel?
Usually, yes. But you also get something for it. Corten forms a layer of rust on the surface that protects the steel underneath. SSAB says this layer forms through repeated wet and dry cycles, and that good water run-off helps it form evenly.
That look is the main reason people pick Corten for walls, screens, planters and signs.
Is “Corten” the same as any rusty steel?
Not quite. COR-TEN is a brand owned by SSAB, made under licence from US Steel to a set steel mix. Weathering steel is the wider term for steel that forms a protective rust layer.
When you get a quote, ask which steel grade is being used. Don’t buy on the word Corten alone.
Does the site affect the price?
It can. The rust layer forms differently depending on the site and the air. Wet and dry cycles help it form, but spots that stay damp can slow it down or change the result.
Rust run-off can also stain light paving or walls below the steel. Good design plans for drainage, gaps and airflow, and that planning can add to the cost.
What pushes the price up
- Thicker steel
- Larger pieces
- Detailed cutting
- Bends and welds
- One-off jobs instead of batches
- Freight on small orders
- Extras such as feet, frames, bars and fixings
An example of how costs add up
A simple garden edge might cost A$53 for a 2440 mm length. That’s the steel only. On a custom job, you may also pay for cutting, joining, bends, fixings and fitting on site.
A planter works the same way. The steel is one part of the price. You also pay for the base, welding, drain holes, shaping, packing and freight.
How to get an accurate quote
- Length, width and height
- Steel thickness, if you know it
- A drawing or plan
- How many parts you need
- Where it will be used
- Whether you need cutting, holes, bends, welds or a frame
- Whether freight is included in the quote
Custom Corten work from us
Many Corten jobs aren’t flat sheet. Some need a custom shape, a clean cut or a full build.
See our 3D Custom Parcel Box for an example of custom Corten work. For house and site signs, see our 3D Numbers and 3D Letters.
The short answer
Corten steel has no single price. A small retail edge costs tens of dollars. A 3 mm panel costs hundreds. Custom planters and screens cost more again.
